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"The number of tiger deaths (in Maharashtra) in the year 2017 was second highest in the country after Madhya Pradesh. India's biggest tiger Jay has been missing too," Nirupam said at a press conference here.

"Does this bitter reality sound normal to Sudhir Mungantiwar? It is highly possible that Mungantiwar could be in nexus with international poaching mafias. It is clear that our national animal isn't safe under Mungantiwar's rule," the Congress leader said.

Nirupam alleged that despite the National Tiger Conservation Authority's rule of having a surveillance system in every tiger reserve in the country, Mungantiwar has conveniently refrained from doing so in Maharashtra.

"States with tiger reserves have installed surveillance systems, except Maharashtra. When a surveillance system was installed on a pilot basis in a tiger reserve in Chandrapur district, Mungantiwar admitted it helped in tracking the location of tigers and poaching activities.

"Is this why he hasn't installed it (such a system) in Maharashtra so that the poaching mafia could continue to kill tigers for huge monetary benefits?" he asked.

Mungantiwar said he would file a defamation case against Nirupam for making wild allegations.

"This is nothing but low-level politics. He has lowered the standards of politics by making baseless allegations. I will file a defamation case against him in Chandrapur district," the BJP minister said.

The BJP-led government in the state has come under fire over the killing of the tigress. She left behind two 10-month-old cubs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)